Poinsettia plant named &#39;fiscor electric&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Poinsettia plant named ‘Fiscor Electric’ particularly described by the combined features of brilliant, orange-red bract color; medium sized inflorescence, ovate bracts; uniform dark-green foliage, ovate leaves with moderate lobes; medium sized, wide and rounded plant habit; and medium flowering response.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT Euphorbia pulcherrima VARIETY DENOMINATION

Fiscor Electric

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Poinsettia plant. botanically known as Euphorbia pulcherrima and hereinafter referred to by the variety denomination ‘Fiscor Electric’.

‘Fiscor Electric’ was discovered by the inventor, Dirk Krüger, from a naturally occurring mutation of Poinsettia plant named ‘Fiscor’ ( U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,364). ‘Fiscor’ is characterized by deep red colored bracts, dark-green foliage with moderate lobes, and wide, medium sized plant habit.

In November 2001, a plant having several orange inflorescences was discovered among a crop of potted flowering plants of the parent variety ‘Fiscor’ in a greenhouse in Gönnebek, Germany. In December 2001, the plant was taken to Hillscheid, Germany, where the plant was left to develop vegetative shoots, which were cut for propagation in the spring of 2002.

Horticultural examination of the plants grown thereof starting in the late summer of 2002 and continuing through 2003, has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for ‘Fiscor Electric’ are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true to type.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of ‘Fiscor Electric’, which in combination distinguish this Poinsettia as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. brilliant, orange-red bract color;

2. medium sized bracts, in a tight and flat, rosette-like arrangement;

3. uniform dark-green foliage with weak to moderate lobes;

4. about medium sized, wide, rounded plant habit; and

5. medium flowering response.

‘Fiscor Electric’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day-length.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in comparison to ‘Fiscor Electric’ are the parental cultivar ‘Fiscor’ and the related variety ‘Fiscor Fire’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,992. In comparison to ‘Fiscor’ and ‘Fiscor Fire’, ‘Fiscor Electric’ has a more brilliant and more orange hue of bract color. With reference to begin of flowering, the finishing time for plants of ‘Fiscor Electric’ corresponds that of ‘Fiscor’, while ‘Fiscor Fire’ is slightly earlier.

Furthermore, the reddish color of stems and pedicels is somewhat lighter for ‘Fiscor Electric’ than with ‘Fiscor and ‘Fiscor Fire’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographic drawing shows typical inflorescence and foliage of ‘Fiscor Electric’, with colors being as true as possible with illustrations of this type. The photograph shows a mature potted plant of ‘Fiscor Electric’ in its entirety featuring the brilliant, orange-red bract color and dark-green foliage.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in Langley, British Columbia, Canada, and in Hillscheid, Germany in the fall of 2002, under greenhouse conditions which approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Rooted cuttings were planted into 14 cm pots on July 17, and were pinched on August 1, leaving 7 to 8 leaves. Initially, the temperature was between a minimum of 19° C. and 24.5° C. maximum (ventilation temperature), and lower beginning October 1, with a minimum of 16° C. to 23°. The plants initiated flowers under short-day conditions under natural short-day conditions in fall, no black cloth was applied.

Observations and measurements were mainly taken in mid December, when the plants were in full flower and about 20 weeks old.

In the following description color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (RHS). The color values were determined indoors in a North light.

-   Plant:     -   -   Form.—Shrub, self-branching.         -   Growth habit.—About medium sized, pinched plants are bushy             and round in shape.         -   Height (above soil line).—26.5 cm.         -   Width.—46.5 cm.         -   Average number of branches.—8.5.         -   Length of branches.—20-22 cm.         -   Diameter of branches.—5-6 mm.         -   Average number of inflorescence.—7.1.         -   Stem color.—Lower part light green, RHS 144 B, upper parts             of stems are weakly reddish infused, the resulting color is             approximately RHS 181 C.         -   Internode length.—About 20 mm.         -   Rooting.—Medium, sufficiently rooted for transplanting after             about 20-24 days in a greenhouse at a temperature of 22-24°             C.         -   Blooming habit.—Begin under natural short day conditions in             fall: botanically (cyathia open): in early December,             commercially (bracts colored, marketable): around December             1.         -   Flowering response time.—About 9.5 weeks. -   Foliage:     -   -   Shape.—Broad elliptical to ovate, most often with rounded or             obtuse base, with weak to medium lobes, acuminate tip,             entire margin.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: smooth and flat, only weakly veined,             color of veins: mainly light green, RHS 145 B, at the base             pink, RHS 179 B.         -   Lower surface.—Flat and smooth, except for the slightly             protruding midrib and finer side veins in a pinnate pattern,             the vein color is near RHS 179 D.         -   Leaf blade size.—Length: 14 cm; width 10.25 cm.         -   Petiole.—Length: 6.5 to 7.5 cm, diameter 0.3 cm.         -   Quantity.—About 50-55 leaves per plant.         -   Color.—Generally dark green, uniform.         -   Mature foliage.—Upper surface, RHS 139 A; under surface, RHS             139 B.         -   New foliage.—Upper side: RHS 143 A; under side RHS 137 D.         -   Leaf petiole.—Upper side: reddish-brown, RHS 181 A; lower             side: RHS 176 D.         -   Aspect.—Petioles are mostly horizontally directed, while the             leaf blades slant downwards. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Whole inflorescence with surrounding bracts.—about medium             sized, star-shaped, with the bracts horizontally directed in             a tight, overlapping arrangement.         -   Diameter.—About 23-25 cm.         -   Height of inflorescence.—About 20-25 mm, which is relatively             flat.         -   Number of bracts per inflorescence.—10-13 (with a size over             2 cm).         -   Keeping quality.—Good lasting quality will be maintained for             about 4 weeks, no dropping of bracts. -   Bracts:     -   -   Shape.—Ovate, with rounded bases, weak lobes, and acuminate             tips; bract blade is flat, with entire margin.         -   Size of the largest fully colored bract.—12.5 cm long, 7.8             cm wide.         -   Texture.—smooth, very little or no rugosity.         -   Vein color.—Upper side corresponds closely to bract color;             lower side pale orange to pale pink, near RHS 31 D to RHS 37             C.         -   Color.—Generally deep orange-red, uniform; upper surface RHS             43 A; lower surface RHS 43 B.         -   Petiole.—12-15 mm long, color: upper side deep red, RHS 44             A, lower side from pale brown, RHS 170 D, to pale green, RHS             145 B.         -   Cyme.—18-22 mm in diameter, approximately 10 cyathia borne             in a tight cluster.         -   Cyathium.—Ovate, about 5-6 mm in diameter, medium to light             green colored, RHS 143 B, top red, RHS 46 B; total length             (with peduncle and female flower): 18-20 mm.         -   Peduncle.—Light green, RHS 143 C, 1-2 mm long.         -   Nectar cups.—Usually one or two per cyathium, 5 mm wide (1             honey-cup), 3-4 mm wide (2 honey-cups), brilliant yellow,             RHS 12 A, to occasionally orange, RHS 25 A, no reddish             coloring at the margin. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—About 5-15 in a cluster, filaments 3 mm, red RHS 46             B; moderate pollen, yellow, RHS 12 A.         -   Pistil.—One per cyathium, style and stigma red RHS 45 B,             stigma trifurcate, 6-lobed.         -   Ovaries.—Light to medium green, RHS 143 C, initially             obovate, later triangular, diameter 3-4 mm, 5-6 mm long, 3             ovules.         -   Fruit/Seed set.—No seed set observed. -   Disease/Pest resistance/susceptibility: No observations made. 

1. A new and distinct Poinsettia plant named ‘Fiscor Electric’ as described and illustrated herein. 